The 2023 MLB season has come to an end, now it is time for what some call the most majestic baseball to ever be played. October baseball.
It feels like any one of these wildcard teams can make it to the divisional round. Also, once there either one of the 8 teams can make a run at a title.
How about the Astros swooping in on the final day of the season to steal the AL West division and a wildcard bye.
I talked all season about liking either the Astros, Dodgers, and mostly the Braves as the best team in baseball. This is where they prove who is the best. I can not lie looking at the potential matchups in this bracket, there is no such thing as an easy road.
MLB Wild Card Bets
This is what I am betting in the Wild Card round, and why.
Toronto Blue Jays vs Minnesota Twins
This series jumps off of the page immediately for two reasons. The first reason being the disparity in talent between the two teams, and the second is the series price offered by most sports books.
Toronto being the underdog here is something I can not understand. Yet, I love it. I do understand that fully clicking the Twins can play ball with anybody.
Pitching:
Pitching wise, both of these teams struggle at times. However both could also be dominant. First two games I would have to assume Sonny Gray (8-8, 2.79) and Pablo Lopez (11-8, 3.66) take the bump for the Twins. While the numbers look good, keep in mind both players started 32 games this season.
For Toronto, I would have to assume a combination of Kevin Gausman (12-9, 3.16) and Chris Bassitt (16-8, 3.60). Although I would not be surprised by seeing Jose Berrios (11-12, 3.65), Yusei Kikuchi (11-6, 3.86), or Hyun Jin Ryu (3-3, 3.46).
The bullpens for both teams have been about average all season. The starters will have to go deeper than the fifth inning effectively for pitching to be any sort of advantage in this series.
Most likely it will all come down to the big bats on both teams. Timely hitting will be huge, as well as getting hits with runners on base and in scoring position.
Batting:
I have to give the edge to the Blue Jays when it comes to hitting. While the Twins have been an under the radar team all season, the Blue Jays have been a top five offense.
Outside of Buxton and Correa, this Twins team will struggle with power hitting and might have to rely on some small ball tactics.
The Blue Jays 1-7 have guys who can hit bombs with one arm tied behind their back. With that being said, they will still have to show up and do it. There will be no wins handed out this October, everything will be earned.
As deadly as this lineup has been in Toronto, they have had weeks of going cold swinging the bat. While the Twins have had moments of being absolutely on fire.
MLB Wild Card Bets: The Red Beard: Twins v Blue Jays
With everything I have said, there is no way or no where I can get to the Blue Jays being underdogs in this series. I see Gausman and Bassitt dominating two games in a row, and then heading to sizzler’s to celebrate.
I look for the Blue Jays bats to be comfortable and hitting with power. Give me the Blue Jays to advance.
Toronto Blue Jays +118 to win the Series against the Minnesota Twins.
(Take all wagers at your own risk, Please gamble responsibly)
(Odds provided by FanDuel Sports Book)
Rowan Donaghey is a Sports and Betting insider for Stare Down Sports. You can follow him on twitter via @RowanDonaghey
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